Get your American flags ready, put on the sunscreen and circle Saturday, July 1, on your calendar.
A parade and party in the park are coming to town and what better way to celebrate Independence Day than with family, friends and a good time?
The Bonita Springs Professional Firefighters Local 3444 union and the city of Bonita Springs are rolling out the big flags, musical acts and the best local food and drinks for a bash that starts on July 1 as part of the Star Spangled Bonita celebration.
The annual Independence Day parade will kick off the day at 9 a.m. with locals decorating themselves and their cars or boats with Americana style flavor and this year’s “Sea to Shining Sea” theme.
“Everybody is there to have a good old time and they will all come dressed up and ready to walk, ride or drive through Old 41,” said Dana Hoenie, a firefighter who is working out the details for the parade.
He will be taking forms for people interested in participating in the parade and says that all are welcome to participate. Those who want to be judged for their costumes or decorations must have their forms in to Hoenie before June 28.
“Whatever they want to do with the float is fine but of course the closer they stick to the theme, the better for the judges,” said Hoenie, who has been planning the parade since May.
The parade, which will be the 48th of its kind, will start at Rosemary Drive on Old 41 and head south to Hampton Street.
“Our parades are always fun with water battles, the sheriff’s department always does something and the city council comes out,” Hoenie said.
The Bonita Springs Professional Firefighters Local 3444 union also puts out a book with local advertisers and a program schedule as a fundraiser for children’s burn centers, nonprofit organizations and other clubs in the area.
“Some of the money goes to pay for the insurance to have the parade but the rest goes to the charities that the union helps,” Hoenie said. “It’s a good way to celebrate independence and being a part of America.”
According to Hoenie, the parade is being held on July 1 instead of on the weekday of July 4 because past parades have had little turnout if held on weekdays.
“The day off is a weekday and nobody has the day after off. That’s our main reason. We have done it a couple times throughout all the years,” Hoenie said. “It’s never paid off to do it on a holiday; we just didn’t get the turn out.”
But celebrating Independence Day in Bonita Springs is much more than a morning parade, the fun continues into the early afternoon with a party at Riverside Park on Old 41 until 1 p.m.
“It’s going to be one fantastic celebration and two spectacular events,” said Trish Leonard, co-chair of the party in the park.
The Riverside Celebration will include local businesses offering the best food and drink in Bonita and musical acts like the Bob Leary New Orleans Dixieland Band.
The event will also have a children’s area complete with water slide and games.
“We encourage everyone to bring chairs and watch all the events on the main stage,” Leonard said.
The main stage will be full of activities with Russell’s Clam Bakes hosting a hot dog eating competition.
“Anybody who wants to go on stage and try it can. They have three minutes to eat as many hot dog’s as they can with the bun,” Leonard said.
Whoever wins gets a trophy in City Hall and is crowned “Bonita’s Top Dog.”
“The winner also gets a cooler with hot dogs and buns just in case they still have space (in their stomachs),” she joked.
For those who haven’t had enough time to brush up on their competitive eating skills, they can try their hand at baking for the annual Bonita’s Best Blue Ribbon Pie Contest. Bakers are invited to enter their best pie with the entry forms available at City Hall.
“There are four categories and there will be four winners for each category and a winner for the overall best pie,” Leonard said.
She suggests people bring in their pies at 10 a.m. to the community center across from Riverside Park. Entries will be judged and visitors will be allowed to purchase slices of pie.
“This is just an opportunity to come together as a whole and celebrate their independence and be thankful for being in a wonderful country,” Leonard said. “We are excited and it will be all colorful and all just red, white and blue.”
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Fireworks can be dangerous. Keep safe.
Fireworks are an American tradition synonymous with family gatherings, cookouts and parades on Independence Day.
But some parties end too soon after someone gets hurt and the ambulance is on the scene scrambling to figure out what went wrong.
By that time it’s too late although various warning labels and agencies caution people to be smart about creating their own fireworks display in the backyard.
Deputy Angelo Vaughn, spokesperson for the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, explains that fireworks aren’t for everybody and many are too dangerous to purchase in the first place.
“We suggest people use precautions and be smart and very safe about doing fireworks at home,” Vaughn said.
Being careful means more than just clearing the area of debris and checking for power lines before rocketing fireworks into the sky.
“People have to check to see what the ordinances in their area say and make sure it’s okay to do the fireworks in their backyard,” Vaughn said.
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that approximately 10,000 Americans have been injured annually in firework-related incidents over the past decade.
The majority of the injuries have been a result of misuse.
“You could lose an eye or an arm, especially with small children or infants in the area. You have to use common sense,” Vaughn said.
Kids don’t need to be in put in the house and watch fireworks from the window but extra caution must be taken especially after fireworks have been shot.
“You don’t want the kids too close to the fireworks but they can stand in the area,” he said.
Vaughn also cautions users to discard of fireworks properly and safely.
He urges people to dunk them in water if necessary and pick them up from the street.
“Make sure they are out first so you don’t have any type of fires,” he said.
For those looking for less adventure and more entertainment, Vaughn suggests attending public firework displays.
“It would be a good idea to go to a park and watch them as opposed to doing them in your backyard,” Vaughn said. “It’s much safer and fun for the family.”
A few tips:
¸Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
¸Read and follow all warnings and instructions.
¸Buy from reliable sellers.
¸Use outdoors only.
¸Always have water handy (a garden hose and a bucket).
¸Light only one firework at a time.
¸Dispose of fireworks properly by soaking them in water and then disposing them in your trash can.
¸Never throw or point fireworks at people.
¸Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.
¸Only light them on a smooth, flat surface away from the house, dry leaves, and flammable materials.
¸Never try to relight fireworks that have not fully functioned.
¸Stay away from illegal explosives.
SOURCE: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Council on Fireworks Safety
But some parties end too soon after someone gets hurt and the ambulance is on the scene scrambling to figure out what went wrong.
By that time it’s too late although various warning labels and agencies caution people to be smart about creating their own fireworks display in the backyard.
Deputy Angelo Vaughn, spokesperson for the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, explains that fireworks aren’t for everybody and many are too dangerous to purchase in the first place.
“We suggest people use precautions and be smart and very safe about doing fireworks at home,” Vaughn said.
Being careful means more than just clearing the area of debris and checking for power lines before rocketing fireworks into the sky.
“People have to check to see what the ordinances in their area say and make sure it’s okay to do the fireworks in their backyard,” Vaughn said.
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that approximately 10,000 Americans have been injured annually in firework-related incidents over the past decade.
The majority of the injuries have been a result of misuse.
“You could lose an eye or an arm, especially with small children or infants in the area. You have to use common sense,” Vaughn said.
Kids don’t need to be in put in the house and watch fireworks from the window but extra caution must be taken especially after fireworks have been shot.
“You don’t want the kids too close to the fireworks but they can stand in the area,” he said.
Vaughn also cautions users to discard of fireworks properly and safely.
He urges people to dunk them in water if necessary and pick them up from the street.
“Make sure they are out first so you don’t have any type of fires,” he said.
For those looking for less adventure and more entertainment, Vaughn suggests attending public firework displays.
“It would be a good idea to go to a park and watch them as opposed to doing them in your backyard,” Vaughn said. “It’s much safer and fun for the family.”
A few tips:
¸Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
¸Read and follow all warnings and instructions.
¸Buy from reliable sellers.
¸Use outdoors only.
¸Always have water handy (a garden hose and a bucket).
¸Light only one firework at a time.
¸Dispose of fireworks properly by soaking them in water and then disposing them in your trash can.
¸Never throw or point fireworks at people.
¸Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.
¸Only light them on a smooth, flat surface away from the house, dry leaves, and flammable materials.
¸Never try to relight fireworks that have not fully functioned.
¸Stay away from illegal explosives.
SOURCE: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Council on Fireworks Safety
Counselor gives out books to kids in July 4th parade
Janet Borchers is gearing up for Independence Day but she isn’t buying fireworks or preparing for a picnic.
She is fundraising, ordering, and packing up books for the fourth of July parade at Riverside Park on July 1.
Borchers has handed out free books to youngsters on the parade route for more than three years.
But with increasing demand and more and more little hands sticking out during the parade give away Borchers had to get creative.
“I wanted to be able to give out more books because it’s exciting for these kids to get a new book in their home,” said Borchers, of Bonita Springs.
Borchers, the guidance counselor at Springs Creek Elementary usually enlists the help of local businesses to donate money to supply the more than 500 books she usually gives out.
This year, she got a grant for $1,000 and through a special program, paid one dollar for each book — 500 more than last year.
“That number meets the numbers of kids that we see on the parade route and the kids get to participate in a way that is different. It’s fun for them to get the books,” Borchers said.
The first two years, she focused on handing out books for kids in preschool until the interest grew.
“So many other kids had their hands out so as donations grew, we got books for other grade levels as well,” she said.
The project began as a service project kids from Springs Creek could do during the summer but it turned into something more.
“I thought it would be fun to do something during the summer with the kids and remind them that reading is important,” Borchers said.
Handing out 1,000 books within a mile of parade route is a big job that Borchers admits she can only do with a little help from her second through fifth graders.
Although she calls each grade individually, she does get some help from students in the summer camp program at Springs Creek Elementary and reminds parents to bring the kids out.
“They come and pass out books with us and they spend a day with us in the summer, it’s not very often that kids get to see each other or the teachers during the summer,” Borchers said.
She reminds kids to wear sunscreen and meet her at Rosemary Drive and Old 41 on parade day at 8:30 a.m. to receive a bag with books to hand out.
“I thought that if we passed out books it would remind our parents of the importance of reading,” she said. “Keeping the focus on reading during the summer was one of my key ideas.”
She is fundraising, ordering, and packing up books for the fourth of July parade at Riverside Park on July 1.
Borchers has handed out free books to youngsters on the parade route for more than three years.
But with increasing demand and more and more little hands sticking out during the parade give away Borchers had to get creative.
“I wanted to be able to give out more books because it’s exciting for these kids to get a new book in their home,” said Borchers, of Bonita Springs.
Borchers, the guidance counselor at Springs Creek Elementary usually enlists the help of local businesses to donate money to supply the more than 500 books she usually gives out.
This year, she got a grant for $1,000 and through a special program, paid one dollar for each book — 500 more than last year.
“That number meets the numbers of kids that we see on the parade route and the kids get to participate in a way that is different. It’s fun for them to get the books,” Borchers said.
The first two years, she focused on handing out books for kids in preschool until the interest grew.
“So many other kids had their hands out so as donations grew, we got books for other grade levels as well,” she said.
The project began as a service project kids from Springs Creek could do during the summer but it turned into something more.
“I thought it would be fun to do something during the summer with the kids and remind them that reading is important,” Borchers said.
Handing out 1,000 books within a mile of parade route is a big job that Borchers admits she can only do with a little help from her second through fifth graders.
Although she calls each grade individually, she does get some help from students in the summer camp program at Springs Creek Elementary and reminds parents to bring the kids out.
“They come and pass out books with us and they spend a day with us in the summer, it’s not very often that kids get to see each other or the teachers during the summer,” Borchers said.
She reminds kids to wear sunscreen and meet her at Rosemary Drive and Old 41 on parade day at 8:30 a.m. to receive a bag with books to hand out.
“I thought that if we passed out books it would remind our parents of the importance of reading,” she said. “Keeping the focus on reading during the summer was one of my key ideas.”
Star Spangled Bonita celebrates Fourth of July
Trish Leonard knows how to throw a party but not just any ol’ decorations and music will do.
It has to be big, loud and full of fun and on July 4 she’ll get her chance to show Bonita Springs and neighboring communities her party planning skills.
With sponsorship from Bonita Springs and local businesses, Leonard is planning a huge celebration and fireworks exhibition at Palmira Golf and Country Club on July 4.
“We are gonna have entertainment on stage, magicians strolling through the audience and a 15-foot Uncle Sam,” said Leonard, of Estero.
She has been doing the fireworks show for five years with a focus on family fun and safety.
“It’s safer for the family and kids to come see fireworks. It’s done by professional pyrotechnics and like anything, we want to make sure that everyone is safe,” Leonard said.
This year the fireworks will be at the golf club because an accident at Lovers Key State Park several years ago led Leonard to find an alternate and safer location for people to enjoy themselves.
“It’s a nice thing for families and we all have good memories of when we were children and going to see fireworks,” said Barry Whitt, co-chair of the special events committee that is putting the event on.
Whitt is Leonard’s right-hand man and rightfully so, she needs all the help she can get with planning transportation, vendors and musical acts.
“We are going to have complementary shuttle busses that will take people to Palmira and they will run continuously throughout the night,” Leonard said.
She asks that people meet at the Flamingo Island Flea Market at 4:30 p.m.
Fireworks will start at dusk and families are asked to bring lawn chairs or blankets to enjoy them. The fireworks show will be synchronized with music including songs from Neil Diamond and the Beach Boys.
“As an adult, you will enjoy the spectacle and if you are going as a family, you are coming to a family event that has everything ... food, music and fun,” Whitt said.
It has to be big, loud and full of fun and on July 4 she’ll get her chance to show Bonita Springs and neighboring communities her party planning skills.
With sponsorship from Bonita Springs and local businesses, Leonard is planning a huge celebration and fireworks exhibition at Palmira Golf and Country Club on July 4.
“We are gonna have entertainment on stage, magicians strolling through the audience and a 15-foot Uncle Sam,” said Leonard, of Estero.
She has been doing the fireworks show for five years with a focus on family fun and safety.
“It’s safer for the family and kids to come see fireworks. It’s done by professional pyrotechnics and like anything, we want to make sure that everyone is safe,” Leonard said.
This year the fireworks will be at the golf club because an accident at Lovers Key State Park several years ago led Leonard to find an alternate and safer location for people to enjoy themselves.
“It’s a nice thing for families and we all have good memories of when we were children and going to see fireworks,” said Barry Whitt, co-chair of the special events committee that is putting the event on.
Whitt is Leonard’s right-hand man and rightfully so, she needs all the help she can get with planning transportation, vendors and musical acts.
“We are going to have complementary shuttle busses that will take people to Palmira and they will run continuously throughout the night,” Leonard said.
She asks that people meet at the Flamingo Island Flea Market at 4:30 p.m.
Fireworks will start at dusk and families are asked to bring lawn chairs or blankets to enjoy them. The fireworks show will be synchronized with music including songs from Neil Diamond and the Beach Boys.
“As an adult, you will enjoy the spectacle and if you are going as a family, you are coming to a family event that has everything ... food, music and fun,” Whitt said.
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